A cruise passengers is missing from a Princess cruise ship heading towards Sydney today. The ship in question, the Sun Princess, is completing a 13-day cruise to New Zealand.
There is no explanation how or when the passenger went overboard.
Unfortunately, it again appears that this Princess cruise ship does not have am automatic man overboard system as required by the 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act.
Last year there was an overboard passenger from the Sun Princess. I wrote this article last October: Princess Cruises: Why No CCTV or Man Overboard Systems on the Sun Princess?
Princess Cruises released the following statement:
“Princess Cruises confirms that an 84-year-old male passenger was reported missing early today onboard Sun Princess, which was on the way to Sydney completing a 13-day New Zealand cruise.
A thorough search of Sun Princess was conducted but the passenger could not be located.
The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra was contacted and Sun Princess turned around and retraced its path off the coast of New South Wales.
Sun Princess was scheduled to arrive in Sydney this morning.
She will continue its search efforts until released by the RCC.
Sun Princess’ arrival in Sydney will be delayed and the next cruise will be impacted.”
You can see a video of the story here.
Photo Credit: Daily Telegraph